Seeking Advice on Menopause

I'm 45 and in peri menopause myself. I also experience heavy bleeding and my doctor has offered me several options to deal with it. I have not yet decided which one to go for so I can't tell you how it went, but her doctor should be doing more for a 3 month period than patting her on the head and telling her its normal! She should probably consult with another doctor.

Perimenopausal symptoms can occur as early as ten years before the actual event, so it's not unusual for your sister to be experiencing symptoms at age 47. I'm 46, and for the past three years my periods have completely stopped for six months and returned regularly the other six. After getting it checked out and receiving a clean bill of health from my gyn, we both agreed and accepted that it's simply part of the perimenopausal process.

However, painful, clotty bleeding for three months needs to be examined further rather than dismissed as just another symptom of perimenopause, especially if it fails to respond to hormone treatment. It doesn't necessarily mean her condition is serious; it could simply be uterine fibroids that can be surgically removed. Your sister needs to be her own health advocate and push for an ultrasound, be it from the same doctor or another one. Judging from this doctor's failure to pursue her condition further, I'd switch to another one.

Your sister is very lucky to have such a caring, loving sibling looking out for her. Good luck and I hope it all turns out well.

HI C., Yes the bleeding is normal for pre-menopause although all women are different. It is years ago for me but I think after a long stretch of bleeding my Dr. did a D&C. which helped for a while. Also if she has been bleeding for 3 months I hope she is taking a suppliment with Iron or she may run into another problem. Your sister may want to get a second opinion. My best, Grandma Mary

Hi C.,

Tell your sister to go to another doc ASAP. I am 49 and yes sometimes my periods are heavy, but it is not normal to bleed for 3 months. I also am pre-menopausal and have some symptoms but I know it is not normal to bleed for so long. She could have fibroid tumors, and is probably anemic from bleeding for so many months. She may need a DNC or just an adjustment of hormones that she is taking. For a doctor to say this is normal is crazy to me. I would make sure she gets checked out right away. Good luck.

Hi C.:

Has she gone to the Gynecologist for a full examination? Othere areas to consider, is there sugar, dairy and fats in her diet? Is she going through emotional stress? Does she exercise? Is there a hormonal imbalance? These may be factors that play a part in what's going on. I am a Natural Therapy Practitioner who specializes in women's health; feel free to pass on my information to her. I am available for consultations in-office (Chelsea, NY) and over the telephone.

All the best,
N.
www.WholeCreations.com
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C.,

I pretty much went through the same thing when I started menopause. I had my period for 9 straight weeks, and it was so bad that I actually passed out twice. The doctor tried me on hormones as well, but it didnt help, and also made my breasts very sore. Also I was not a good candidate for the hormones because of a history of breast cancer in many members of my family.

Have they tried doing a D&C on your sister? That may stop the bleeding, although it didn't work with me. 3 days later I just started in with the bleeding again, and my doctor just didn't seem to be taking it very seriously.

When I passed out the second time, my regular gynocologist was on vacation, and his associate treated me. Since I didn't plan to have any more children, he decided to do a partial hysterectomy, and removed my uterus. He was able to remove it vaginally, rather than by making an incision, or by laparoscopy. I was back at work in only two weeks, and felt 100 percent better!

If your sister doesn't plan to have any more children, then that may be the way to go. If her own doctor doesn't seem to be taking this seriously, then I would suggest that she go to another doctor, and seek a second opinion. Constantly bleeding is no fun, and if it goes on long enough, can be a very real threat to your general health, causing anemia and many other health problems.

If I were you, I would insist that she seek a second opinion, even if you have to go with her to make sure that she does! If she can find a doctor willing to remove her uterus, she will feel 100 per cent better within two weeks. Having mine removed was the best decision I ever made!

D.

Seek another opinion.. another dr. maybe will listen to her.. I was told to take soy every day.. just one glass to help with some issues of menopause.. and to take black cohosh.. I went on ivillage.com to see info on meno. It has some great info on any type of women issues.. good luck.. having you period for days on end.. is horrible.. make sure she is taking vitamins.. and even a glass of red wine too... tell her seek out another dr.. maybe a younger dr.. who is more schooled in newer things that are out their.. allie~~~

Hi C., I read your question and it was if I was reading about myself 7 years ago! I also was in perimenopause at that time, bleeding and clotting as your sister is. It turned out I had fibroid tumors in and out of my uterus and on my ovaries. Estrogen only makes them worse! Tell her to go to another gyn or ask her current one for an ultrasound. She needs an internal ultrasound (forget what it is called, but it is something you never forget having!). That will show what the deal is. I don't like that her doctor is giving her more estrogen, fibroids feed on it, which is why, once you hit menopause, they go away...no more estrogen. Tell her good luck and I know how she feels but it will get better with the right diagnosis and treatment.

Kathy

i would go to a different obgyn. i would also want to have an intravaginal ultrasound to see if these are cysts..either uterine or ovarian. either can make clots...something isn't right and it's called perimenopause and i personally think the dr. is not a good dr.

get a second opinion she should be skipping periods if she is bleeding nonstop for 3 months something is wrong how about dnc.

I would get a second opinion. Good luck.

I concur-get her to get a 2nd opinion. The one woman I knew who had those symptoms-while much too young to be premenopausal-had fibroids that were making her bleed like that.

Hi - I had bleeding issues and early perimenopause. First they found polyps. Then a few yrs later I had more issues. I finally switched Dr's. They tried a D&C and then my pain still did not go away. I had a partial hysterectomy and it turned out I had an ovarian cyst pressing on the back of my uterus that could not be seen with an ultrasound.

I was bleeding a lot and had a lot of pain. This operation was my only solution and I have felt great since. My original Dr was just not listening to me.

I would try a second opinion. Good luck.

Hi C.,
Mid to late 40's is certainly not too young to experience perimenopausal symptoms - some women can be in this stage for 10 years or more before they stop having periods. Many women enter this stage in their late 30's.
I would suggest that she seek a second opinion. You can't force her to do so, but if she isn't getting what she needs from this doctor, there's no reason to stay with him. As a breast cancer survivor diagnosed at 35, I don't believe in giving women more estrogen when their body is diminishing its supply, hormone replacement is a hugely controversial issue - has your sister looked into the risks and has her doctor fully explained them?